Penguins defenseman Mark Friedman fined for embellishment
Penguins defenseman Mark Friedman was fined $2,000 for embellishment by the NHL on Thursday.
Per a release from the league, Friedman violated NHL Rule 64 which is “designed to bring attention to and more seriously penalize players (and teams) who repeatedly dive and embellish in an attempt to draw penalties.”
Players are fined based on the number of citations issued by the NHL’s Operations department. Per the league, those fines can escalate:
Citation - Punishment
1 - Warning
2 - $2,000
3 - $3,000
4 - $4,000
5 - $5,000
6 - $5,000
7 - $5,000
8 - $5,000
Friedman was issued a warning by the NHL Hockey Operations department following his season debut, a 5-4 home loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Dec. 28.
His second citation, which triggered the fine, was issued following the Penguins’ 4-2 home win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday. After being slashed on the left knee by Flyers forward Travis Konecny at 10:22 of the third period, Friedman tumbled to the ice. Konecny did receive a penalty for the slash.
This marks the second time Friedman has been fined in his career. In October of 2021, he was fined $1,812.50 for spearing Columbus Blue Jackets forward Sean Kuraly during a preseason game.
Money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
In 21 games this season, Friedman has three points (one goal, two assists) while averaging 14:30 of ice time per contest.
Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com.
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